CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3885, 28 August 1928, Page 37

CASUALTIES.

LORRY PLUNGES OVER BANK. WELLINGTON, August 21. Severe injuries were received by Hugh Talbot, a married man, aged 40, of Newtown, when a motor lorry in his charge, the property of the Hutt River Shingle Company, plunged over a bank and fell 200 feet from the Horokiwi road, near Petone. He suffered injuries to the head, lacerated wounds of the face, the fracture of the bones of the left hand,-qind concussion and shock, and his condition is regarded as serious. LINESMAN ELECTROCUTED. GISBORNE, August 22. While working at Waimata this afternoon on the Poverty Bay Electric Power Board’s extension to that district, Roy Bartlett. 27 years of age, married, with two children under six years, fell across a line carrying 6000 volts, and was instantly electrocuted. RAILWAY FATALITY. TIMARU, August 22. An inquest on the body of the man who was killed by the slow train from Oamaru at the Mill street crossing last night was opened to-day before Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M. The body was identified by Mary David as that of her brother, Thomas Bradley David, a labourer, aged 47 years. A peculiar and tragic feature of the accident is that the deceased’s father was also killed by- a train at practically the same spot about 18 months ago. August 23. At the adjourned inquest a verdict was returned that the deceased met his death by being run over by the train, no blame being attachable to the train crew. A DRAMATIC SUICIDE. WHANGAREI, August 23. Victor Clarence Clarke, aged 3”. a farmer, of Pakotai, married, with four young children, committed suicide yesterdayafternoon by shooting the left side of his head being blown away. The horse he had been riding was also shot dead. The deceased’s wife, when out riding, met her husband, who commanded her to dismount. He then took her place, and galloped away, calling out. “ This is the last time you will see me alive.” Shortly afterwards two gunshots were heard. At the inquest to-day a verdict was returned that death was caused by a gunshot wound, self-inflicted during a state of mental aberration. ATTACKED BY BULLOCK. WELLINGTON. August 23. James Hill, aged 27, and single, a resident of Ngahauranga, was attacked by a bullock early this morning. Cattle were being driven up the gorge when one broke away and rushed at Hill. The animal knocked him down, inflicting severe lacerations to the nose and forehead. Hill is a draughtsman in the Public Works Department. RETIRED FARMER FOUND DEAD. CHRISTCHURCH, August 23. With a shotgun beside him. James Francis Tavlor aged 66, a retired farmer, was found dead last night at his home at 142 Wairarapa road. Fendalton. Deceased had been in bad health. CONTACT WITH LIVE WIRE. CHRISTCHURCH. August 23. While working at a switching station at Tai Tapu, Balfour Marshall, an electrical apprentice in the employ' of the Public Works Department, received a severe shock and burns, and is at present in the Christchurch Hospital. Marshall was up a pole attending to a high-tension switch, and presumably he lost his balance, v 'h the result that his hand came into contact with the terminal of the switch, which was carrying 33.000 volts. He collapsed, but the promptness of his fellow-workmen certainly- saved his life. They immediately- applied resuscitation methods, and restored life in about five minutes.

Medical aid was soon at hand, and Marshall was removed to hospital. Being a Rugby footballer, his condition has enabled him to escape the reaction usuallyassociated with severe electric shocks. He is suffering from burns only, the most severe being beneath his right toes, but he is making excellent progress towards recovery.

YOUNG MAN FOUND SHOT. INVERCARGILL, August 23. Shortly- after noon to-day- a young man named Cleave Gerrard, a farmer, single, aged 23, was found lying unconscious in a stable on his farm at South Hillend, with a bullet wound in his head. Lying beside him was a .22 repeating rifle containing a spent cartridge. He was brought to the Southland Hospital, where he lies in a serious condition. PHOTOGRAPHER INJURED. CHRISTCHURCH, August 24. Williarh M'Kaskell, a* photographer, when taking a flashlight photograph at the winter show, Christchurch, last night was burned on the faced owing to the premature explosion of the apparatus. He was taken to hospital, but his condition is not serious. WATERSIDE WORKER’S DEATH. AUCKLAND, August 25. An elderly man, W. Marshall, employed as a waterside worker, when assisting to load timber on to a lorry at the central wharf, Auckland, fell. His head struck a projecting piece "of scantling, and death was instantaneous. It is doubtful whether he tripped or collapsed through illness. SMALL BOY’S DEATH. AUCKLAND, August 26. Arthur George Speck, aged five years, who resided at No. 14 Regina street, Ponsonby, .was knocked down by a motor car in that street on Saturday afternoon. He was taken to the Auckland Hospital and ifound to be suffering from serious head

injuries as a result of which he died late on Saturday- evening. Regina street is a narrow thoroughfare, and the child rushed out from behind a stationary vehicle to be knocked down by a motor car driven by Mr Cyril A. Smith, of 7 Anzac avenue. CAR COLLIDES WITH TRAM. AUCKLAND, August 25. As a result of a collision between a motor car and a tram in Khyber Pass road, Auckland, at 10 o'clock yesterday evening, Doris Gibbons, aged 20. was taken to the hospital with head injuries. Her father, G. W. Gibbons, of Remuera, and his wife and son had lucky escapes. When driving home and level with, an outbound car. Gibbons swerved to avoid a boy on a cycle, skidded, and crashed into the tram. The impact was severe, and the motor jumped the footpath and struck the wall of the Captain Cook Brewery. FOUND HANGING. A married woman, Mary Alice M’Lennan, aged 62 years, residing with her husband at 8 Stonelaw terrace, Maori Hill, was found hanging from a rafter in the washhouse of her residence on Wednesday morning. Life was extinct. The deceased had been in ill-health for some years. In the afternoon an inquest was held before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, coroner, evidence being <-iven by Donald M‘Lennan (husband), Donald Learmonth M'Lennan (son), and Sergeant Boulton. The jury returned a verdict of suicide by- hanging, committed while in a state of unsound mind owing to ill-health.